[COOKING] Inari Sushi

INGREDIENTS:
• Rice - I like using Koshihikari (2cup) • Aburage / Usuage (10sheet)
• Shiitake Mushroom, Steamed & Sliced (3) • carrots, Sliced thin (1/2cup)
• Green Onion, Chopped (1/2cup) • Cilantro, Chopped (1/2cup)
• Asparagus, Steamed & Sliced Thin (1/2cup) • Raisin (1/2cup) • Sesame (2tbs)
• Dashi Soup (2cup) • Brown Sugar (7tbs) • Soy Sauce (5tbs) • Sake (2tbs)
• Rice Vinegar (1/4cup) • Ocean Salt (2tsp)

We invited some friends who had babies this year over for lunch on the weekend, so I wanted to make unique and delicious finger food. So, they can eat while they hold their babies... well, that was at least my plan ;) Since I've made cut roll sushi plenty of times before, I decided to try for Inari Sushi this time.

To make Inari Sushi, we use this fried tofu skin called "Aburage" to stuff sushi rice into it. You can find them at Japanese super market next to Tofu selections (I usually go to Mitsuwa). They also sell pre-made Aburage skin for Inari Sushi at the store, but I'm not sure how good they taste... and all of those pre-made skin usually contain unnecessary preservatives and MSG. So, I would recommend to make your own!

Prepare the Aburage Skin:
1. Boil 4cups water in a deep sauce pan
2. While waiting, cut Aburage sheet into half. Then, open the middle section to make sure each of them are like little bags
3. Put all the Aburage into boiling water for 5min to get rid of excess oil
4. Drain out water
5. In a deep sauce pan, put 2cups of Dashi Soup, brown sugar (5tbs), Soy Sauce (5tbs), Sake (2tbs), and Aburage.
(Make sure to lay the Aburage flat, so that they make nice layers.)
Cook for 30min in middle heat
6. Off the heat - let it cool

Prepare the Sushi Stuffing:
1. Cook 2 cups of rice
2. Mix rice with Rice Vinegar (1/4cup), Brown Sugar (2tbs), Ocean Salt (1/2tsp)
3. Mix all the vegetables (Shiitake Mushroom, Carrots, Green Onion, Cilantro, Asparagus, Raisin) and Sesame into sushi rice

Inari Sushi:
1. Take 1 pocket of Aburage and squeeze out the excess water
2. Stuff the Sushi rice stuffing into Aburage

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If you want to add more to the Inari Sushi, you can prepare different topping such as Unagi (eel) or Smoked Salmon or Tuna to lay on top of each Inari :)

babies
Ohhhhh :) Look how cute their babies (Sophia & Arpi) are!!
Having them around made us want to have our own for sure...